New businesses stirring life in Vallejo

Steve Man is the owner of Sandwich Man, a gourmet eatery at 658 Benicia Road. The shop specializes in a number of different sandwiches and hotdogs that can't be found in a typical sandwich shop. Complete with a condiment and toppings bar, the business hopes to fill hungry eaters with food at reasonable prices.(Chris Riley/Times-Herald)

Just since the beginning of the year, Vallejo has seen a new frozen yogurt shop and a gourmet sandwich place open and a new cosmetology school start classes.

In the past six months, an industrial diving operation, a grill restaurant and Anna's Linens have also opened in town and a Walmart grocery store is in the process of going in where Mervyn's once stood.

In fact, a business license department staff member said there have been more than 630 new business licenses issued in the past six months, a figure that puts the city on track to match the approximately 1,300 licenses issued for all of 2012 and the 1,213 of the year before. But, it tracks about half of 2009's 2,599 licenses, she said.

So, while small businesses come and go all the time in Vallejo, a minor renaissance may be under way.

At least a half-dozen new firms, large and small, have opened in the past six months, including restaurants, clothing stores and larger industries. There also has been a steady stream of permits issued for expansions and remodels for existing businesses, Chief Building Official Gary West said recently.

"I think we're starting to see more stuff come in, even with existing business," West said. "I think the roller coaster is starting to go up. I'm seeing a big push

trying to get poised for this upward trend. People are working on properties all over town."

Senior Community Development Analyst Annette Taylor said she thinks the increased activity is "a good sign that people are feeling confident to invest in Vallejo."

Among the new additions in the past six months are The Habit Burger Grill, going into the former north Vallejo Wendy's; something is in escrow for the former Grocery Outlet on Tuolumne Street and the former Toyota dealership is being transformed into a third In-Shape health club in town, this one to include an outdoor pool, she said.

Muhammad Ali, who recently opened the Vallejo Grill on Admiral Callaghan Lane near Safeway, agreed the local economy, or at least people's perception of it, seems to be improving.

"I think people are thinking, as I was thinking, that we are at the bottom and things would improve; that what goes down, usually comes back up," Ali said. "Also, landlords are more willing to negotiate with tenants than before, and people are seeing the opportunities. There's a new insurance place and the yogurt place that opened recently, just in the same plaza as me. It looks like people are more willing to take risks."

Vallejo's departing economic development director Ursula Luna-Reynosa and Chamber of Commerce president Rich Curtola said there is reason for optimism.

"I think it is a positive sign that businesses are investing in Vallejo," Luna-Reynosa said. "There are many signs that the economy is starting to rebound. I'm hopeful that some of the work the city is doing to streamline the permit process is also encouraging more investment in Vallejo."

Curtola expressed cautious optimism.

"I think the economy is not necessarily turning around to where people are saying, 'yes, we're out of that jam and let's move forward,' but I think people are saying, 'I waited a long time to live my dream and there's never been a better time to get into business, with prices down and landlords willing to work with you, and I think they're taking their shot and that's exciting."